Motor handle and switch



532mm 5, 11923. 1&5196? O. P. ERHARDT MOTOR HANDLE AND SWITCH Origi a Filed Feb. 26 1918 2 Sheets-Sheet l esm 5,

Q. P. ERHARDT MOTOR HANDLE'AND SWITCH O gi a Filed Feb. 26-, 1918 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 swam M07,

@ P EAMAX Patented June 5, IOZB.

earmarorator.

OSCAR P. ERHARDT, OF WEST HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE A. C. GILBERT COMPANY, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, A

CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

MOTOR HANDLE AND SWITCH.

Original application filed February 26, 1918, Serial No. 219,258.

Divided and this application filed.

March 8, 1919. Serial No. 281,498.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OSCAR P. ERHARDT, a citizen of the United States, residing in the town of West Haven, county of New Haven, and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Motor Handle and Switch, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention disclosed in this application, which is a division of my copending ap plication, Serial No. 219,258, filed February 26, 1918, relates to a. handle member having an electric switch mounted thereupon, the handle member being provided to support small portable electric motors and the like, and to control the current supplied thereto.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a handle and electric switch for electric motors and the like, which are so constructed that the motor or the like, to which my handle is secured, may be conveniently supported by one hand of the person us ng the same, and whereby the switch controlling the current to the motor may be operated by the thumb or a finger of the hand grasping the handle.

To these and other ends, the invention consists in the novel features and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. l is a side elevation of a small electric motor having a handle secured thereto and showing in dotted lines an electric switch mounted in the handle for controlling the current to the motor;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the motor shown in Fig. 1, having the handle secured thereto;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but shows the motor having the handle removed therefrom;

Fig. 4: is a side view of the handle removed from its motor, showing parts of the switch partially removed from the handle;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged rear end view of the handle, showing the switch applied thereto (the switch being shown closed) Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the handle taken substantially on line 6-6 of Fig. 5, looking in the direction of the arrows, the switch being shown in its closed position;

Fig. 7, is a view similar to Fig. 6, showing the switch opened;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 5, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary bottom view of the motor casing shown in Fig. 3.

The motor member 12, which may be of any approved type, comprises a casing 13 generally cylindrical in shape, and a motor shaft 14 extending through the casing. It will be understood, of course, that this motor shaft is fixed to the usual armature (not shown) and that the armature revolves be tween suitable field windings (not shown), constructed and arranged in the case in the usual or any preferred manner. In the particular example illustrated, the casing 13 is divided transversely along a line 13 so as to form separate sections 13 and 13. brushes (not shown), are preferably mounted within the projections 13 formed upon the section 13. Preferably the motor shaft, which is journalled in the bearings in the respective sections 13 13 extends out at each end to an appreciable distance beyond the outer face of the corresponding section, so that a vibrator or massage wheel or other device may be attached to either end of the shaft. At one part of its periphery, the casing 13 is provided with a pair of lugs 15. These preferably are formed integrally with the casing, and in the present instance they are formed on the section 13 which is the larger of the two casing sections, said lugs being located at substantially the center of the motor casing but at the lower part thereof, as shown in Fig. l. The two casing sections are secured together by means of screws or similar securing means (not shown). An opening 16 formed in the section 13 at its inner edge between the lugs 15, as shown in Fig. 9, and this openin serves for the passage of the usual electric conductors which extend therethrough into the case, where connection is made with the motor parts. The lugs serve to secure in place a supporting member such as a handle 17, by means of which the motor member may be operated or manipulated when the person using the motor desires to hold the same in his hand. The handle 17 is of substantially cylindrical shape at its upper part, and fits snugly be- The l tween the lugs 15,the upper part or the handle being cut away at opposite sides to form lug-receiving s'ocl-zets 18, as shown in Fig. l, in which the inner face and the edges of the lugs are snugly received. The assemblage is then completed by suitable fastening screws 19, which extend laterally through perforations formed in the respective lugs into screw holes 20, formed in the wood or other material of which the handle is composed. The handle has a longitudinal bore or passage 21 extending completely therethrough, which serves to enclose the wires which pass to the motor through the handle, as shown in dotted lines in liig. 1. lt should be noted that the passageway 21 does not extend axially through the handle 17, but e):-

circuit bya thumb or a a a part of the sleeve or tube 28 is sage 21 formed tends therethrough in an inclined direction, as shown in Figs. 1, 1 and 8. The object in so constructing the passage is to have its inner end so positioned that it will clear a.

drill hole or, socket, hereinafter more fully described, formed centrally in the inner end of the handle. The current for operating the motor 12 is supplied to the same by conductor WiresLQ, which extend through the pasin the handle and through the opening 16 into the motor casing 18.

In order to provide means by which the person using the electric motor herein described may conveniently control the current supplied thereto while supporting the motor by its handle, I have switch designated in its entirety by the numeral 23, which switch is so positioned that it may be easily. operated to open or close the finger of the hand which grasps the motor handle. The inner end of the handle 17 has a notch or clearance space formed therein, in which my switch is mounted. This notch or clearance space is so formed that it provides a flat face or surface 24:, upon which the switch lever hereinafter described is pivotally mounted, and also forms the two projecting lugs 25, which are produced by cutting away handle on each side of the lugs, as shown in Fig. 5. The drill hole or socket 26 is formed centrally within the inner end of the handle 17, as above mentioned. In this socket is mounted a coiled spring 27 and a metal sleeve or tube 2S,the tube 28 being provided with a curved portion projecting from one side of the same, to which an end of one of the current supply wires 22 is soldered or otherwise secured. Inside of the mounted a plunger 30, which is free to slide back and forth therein, and is forced outwardly by the spring 27. The inner end of the handle 17 is provided with a second drill hole, which is positioned substantially midway between the lugs 25. This drill hole has threads formed therein to engage the screw 31, which is mounted therein the upper end of the metal sleeve.

provided an electric in. Pivotally mountedupon this screw 31 is a manually operable switch lever 32,which is formed of fiber or some other non-conducting material. The outer end of this lever is positioned to extend outwardly beyond the side of the handle, in order that the same may be easily engaged by a finger or thumb of the person using the motor. It should be noted that the outer end of this lever 32 is made rough, as shown in Figs. 5 and 8, in order that the finger may firmly engage this end without slipping over the same. he inner end 32 of this lever is positioned to lie over the plunger 30, above mentioned, and is provided with-an inclined face 33, which is adapted to contact with the outer end of the plunger 50, in order to force the same into its socket out of engagement with the metal plate 34. The plate 34: has formed at one end thereof a drill hole 35, which is adapted to receive the screw 31. The plate sa is also provided with projections 86. which are positioned to contact with the lugs 25, as shown in Fig. 5. The plate M has one end of the electric conductor wire 22 secured thereto by solder or other means. The parts of the switch just describedare assembled and operate as follows: The metal sleeve 28 and the spring 27 are mounted in the socket 2G, and the plunger 30 is mounted The switch lever 32 and the plate 34 are then secured to the inner end of thehandle 17 by the screw 31, which passes through the drill hole 35 formed in the plate 34, and

through corres nondin hole formed in the 31 thus serves to reta n and the plate 34:

lever 32. The screw both the pivoted lever 82 in their proper place. The screw 31 is screwed into its socket a sufficient distance to cause the head of the same to clamp slightly upon the outer face of the plate 34;, but not with sufficient force to clamp the lever 82 so that it could not be operated by the thumb or finger of the person using the motor. The plate 3% is so positioned that the inner end of the same extends over the plunger 30 and is retained in this position by the projections 36, which contact with the lugs 25, in order to prevent the plate from swinging about its upon the screw 31.

The operation of my device, it is thought. will be clearly understood from the above description, when read in connection with the drawings and the following remarks. When the parts. of the switch 23 have'been secured in place upon the inner end of the handle 17, the ily secured to the casing 13 of the motor by means of the lugs 15 and the screws 19, which pass through handle. When the parts are so assembled, one of the current supply wires22 passes pivotal mounting.

handle 17 may then be read these lugs into the uninterruptedly through the channel 21 formed in the handle 17 into the motor 12, while the other wire 22 extends through the passage 21 formed in the handle and has its end secured to the projection 29 formed upon the metal sleeve 28. From the sleeve 28, the current passes through the plunger 30 (provided this plunger is permitted to come in contact with the plate 34E), through the plate 34 and conductor wire 22 into the motor 12. If, however, the switch lever 32 is moved so that its inner end 32 forces the plunger 30 into its socket, as shown in Fig. 7, out of engagement with the plate 34, the circuit will then be broken, so that the current cannot reach the motor. The construction of the sliding plunger 30 and the switch lever 32 is such that the plunger tends to retain the switch lever in either the on position shown in Fig. 6 or the off position shown in Fig. 7, for since the plunger 30 is retained in frictional engagement with either the contact plate 3 1 or the inner end 32 of the switch lever by its spring 27, the pressure of this plunger tends to resist a force shifting the lever 82 from one position to the other.

From the above description, it will be seen that I have devised a simple and convenient means for controlling the current to a motor, which means is so positioned within the handle that supports the .motor that it may be easily operated by a thumb or one of the fingers of the hand supporting the motor. It will therefore be seen that the motor may be entirely controlled by one hand of the person using the same, thus leaving the other hand of the person free to perform any other function.

It will be understood that my handle having a switch applied thereto may be attached to or used in connection with various types of motors other than the motor herein shown and described, and that various minor changes may be made in my handle and switch without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

that I claim is:

1. In a device of the class described, a handle member having opposed contacts mounted upon one end face thereof, a pivoted switch member for disengaging said contacts, one of said contacts being pivotally mounted coincidently with said switch member and said handle member being pro vided with lugs to engage said pivoted contact member to prevent rotation thereof.

2. In a combined electric switch and handle for portable electric devices, a handle member having spaced lugs upon one end thereof, a pivot pin mounted in the end of said handle adjacent said lugs, a contact plate mounted upon said pin and held against rotation thereon by said lugs, a spring operated contact plunger mounted within said handle to contact with said plate, and an operating lever pivotally mounted upon said pin and constructed to force said contact out of engagement with said plate.

3. In a combined electric switch and handle for portable devices, a handle member having one end surface transverse to the longitudinal axis of said handle, a switch mounted upon said surface, said switch comprising ;a longitudinally slidable contact plunger, a contact plate above said plunger with which the plunger is adapted to em gage and a laterally swinging controlling member movable across and in contact with said end face between said plunger and said contact plate to break the contact thereof.

4. In a device of the class described, a handle member for supporting electrical devices, said handle member being provided with a substantially fiat end face having opposed contact members mounted thereon, one of which is adapted to be moved in and out of engagement with the other and a laterally swinging controlling member pivoted on the end face of the handle and adapted to be swung across and in contact with said end face to engage and disengage said memhere to make and break the circuit.

5. In combination, a handle member for portable devices having a substantially fiat end face and a switch mounted on said face, said switch comprising a contact plate spaced from the face of the handle, a plunger slidable lengthwise of the handle and provided with means for retaining the same in engagement with said plate, and a controlling member pivoted on the end face of the handle and adapted to swing transversely across and in contact with said face to disengage the plunger from the contact member.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand on the 4th day of. March, 1919.

OSCAR P. ERHARDT. 

